Page 13 of They Found Us

“No.”

The doctor checks his notes.

“What has happened to my wife, Doctor?”

“Your wife suffered a cardiac arrest. Thankfully she was in the hospital when this occurred. If this have occurred outside a medical facility, I’m afraid your wife would not have had the same outcome.”

The statement has a lump building in my throat.

“You baby’s placenta detached from your wife’s womb. This caused severe internal bleeding, in turn creating traumatic stress on your wife’s body, which then caused the cardiac arrest.”

At this point, I do sit down. I place my baby in his crib then put my head in my hands. I rub my face, trying to process. I could have lost my wife.My wife.I should have been here to protect my family. If she had died, so would I.

“So far your wife seems to be recovering well.”

“Seems to be?” I demand, not liking how that was put.

“Yes. A cardiac arrest is very serious and can have many different long-term effects. Your wife may have some of them or none at all, but it is too early to tell at the moment. We will be keeping a close eye on her and carrying out more tests.”

“What kind of long-term effects?”

“It’s a lack of oxygen to the brain during a cardiac arrest that can sometimes cause further complications. Things like personality changes, problems with memory, feeling tired, dizziness or balance issues. Problems with speech and language, as well as irreversible damage to the heart.”

“Am I going to lose my wife?”

“As I said, Mr Smith, your wife is recovering well at this early stage. She is young and otherwise healthy. But she is going to need a lot of care, especially with a newborn. Her rehabilitation must be slow and gentle. No unnecessary stress.”

“She won’t lift a finger.” I stand, needing to be near my world.

“Let me take you to her. I’ll get the nurse to come and take care of your sons.”

Before entering her room, I take a deep breath to compose myself, cracking my neck to release some tension. Gently, I open the door and find her sleeping. Her blonde hair is fanned across her pillow. She looks like an angel in the crispwhite sheets. A very pale, frail-looking angel. The difference in her appearance in just a few days is painful.

The nurse notices me standing at the door. “Come on in, love. Here, have a seat next to her.” The nurse pulls a chair up beside the bed.

Taking a seat beside her, I gently take hold of her bruised hand. She feels cold.

“I’ll give you some privacy. But if you need anything, just press that orange button.” She points to a remote control attached to Katie’s bed.

To warm her hand, I place my other one over top. Gently, I kiss the tips of her fingers.

“Leo?” Katie begins to stir. Her voice quiet and pained.

“Yes, it’s me, Kat-er-een. I’m here. You just rest.”

“I’ve missed you so much. I’ve been so scared.” A little sob leaves her lips.

Guilt ripples through me. “I’m here now, and I’ll never leave you again.”

“I couldn’t get hold of you. I thought something had happened to you.”

“Hey. Just relax. Everything is fine. I’m okay, the boys are okay, and you’re okay. I’m going to take care of you all.”

“Ti amo.”I love you.

“Ti amo, Kat-er-een.”I love you.

While Katie continues to doze, I worry about how I am going to care for her and how I am going to care for my two young sons. Am I enough? Katie is a fantastic mother. She makes everything seem effortless. Although this life may seem more relaxed than our previous one, Katie does everything inour home single-handedly. Obviously, I tend to the vineyard and help out with the animals. But the household chores and day-to-day running of our home is all Katie. I always offer to help, but she refuses, enjoying being the caring mother taking care of her family.

---